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Player reaction

New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson, who scored 132, on Sky Sports: "It is nice to get your name on the board but at the same time I was disappointed to get out at the stage I did. With the conditions and the rain around, it was a different type of game.

"The challenge is the mental transition from a shorter format to the longer one and make good decisions over a longer period of time. I wanted to bat longer than I did today, hence my frustration.

"It is important that we are patient and the bowlers stick to their areas. There is still something in the wicket and hopefully it will make for a challenge for the opposition."

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Player reaction

England bowler Mark Wood on Sky Sports: "It was nice to get wickets in the end. It was special. I didn't sleep for three days before the start of this Test but I have thoroughly enjoyed the occasion.

"I bowled 13 overs yesterday and I was as tired as if I'd bowled 30 in county cricket, such is the intensity. Today I forgot the crowd and the cameras and ran in and bowled. Once the nerves had calmed, I showed people what I could do."

On the no-ball that cost him a wicket on day two: "I make a point of not bowling no-balls in training but in games I creep up a bit. The umpire mentioned I was tight. But I haven't bowled one since that one that cost me the wicket."

On the match situation: "There is a lot of hard work to do in this game. We need two days of good cricket. A lead of 200 and I will fancy us."

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Review of the day

So, England are behind the eight-ball but certainly not dead and buried yet after the third day. They bowled well but lucklessly in the morning and afternoon as Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum batted New Zealand into a dominant position.

When Trent Boult and Tim Southee removed Adam Lyth and Gary Ballance cheaply, it looked as though England were really in the soup. But Alastair Cook and Ian Bell fought back well as England made some inroads into the deficit.

Despite that though, they remain 60 runs in arrears and will have to play very well tomorrow if they are to avoid defeat in this match.

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"I was thinking by the end of the third day we'd have a clear idea of a potential winner. I'm not so sure now. It is still indecisive. It could be decisive on someone having a great spell of bowling or someone scoring a hundred."

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Close of play

Eng 74-2 (trail by 60)

Spinner Mark Craig will bowl the final over of the day. Alastair Cook cuts a wide one into the outfield and desperately hopes that will be just a single, but Ian Bell makes sure the skipper retains the strike by turning for two. Cook survives the remaining deliveries. Decent fightback by England, but New Zealand's day again.

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"Lots and lots of empty seats inside Lord's now, the late finish probably means that plenty have had to dash for the train home. Those that remain are witnessing a crucial phase. There's a world of difference between England being two down overnight compared to three being back in the hutch."

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Eng 66-2 (trail by 68)

What England would give to get through to the close without another wicket. New Zealand are still in full-on attack mode, and Ian Bell is so lucky not to pick out Kane Williamson at gully with a third-man glide that gets a little more air than he intended. That was so close to carrying.

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"Bell has certainly calmed down now. he had a frenetic start but he is 27 now and has played some nice strokes. He looks more comfortable at the crease. Maybe he felt, after sitting in the balcony watching Root and Stokes attack in the first innings, that this is how he will do it as well."

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Eng 62-2 (Southee 7-0-26-1)

The lights are on at Lord's. When they were illuminated this morning, they made the ball talk like a celebrity on a chat-show couch with a book to promote. The early signs are that they're offering a bit of extra movement for the bowlers again - Tim Southee gets a couple to absolutely hoop.

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"If it hit anything it just flicked the pad on the way through as Bell squared himself up to a good ball that pitched outside off and held its line. That will encourage New Zealand. They need to keep going here."

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Eng 61-2 (Cook 22, Bell 27)

This is eye-watering stuff. Trent Boult has got one to nip back in off a good length and strike Ian Bell in a very delicate area. Bell requires a moment to compose himself and the physio rushes on with a bottle of water. Does that help? Bell very nearly perishes off the final ball of the over, just about withdrawing his bat from the line of a very tasty inswinger.

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"We saw Moeen bowl early in the day and there is left-hander in Alastair Cook for New Zealand to target with spin. I will be interested to see how Bell plays Craig. He encourages someone to go over the top as he gives it a bit of flight."

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"I would always encourage any player who has scored a few low scores to come out and play with intent. You say to yourself, 'rather than prod around I will look to score'. It clears everything out and makes it more simple. You don't worry about the field set either as that distracts you from hitting the ball."

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"Ian Bell has come out playing a few strokes which I think is the best way for him to get his form back. he is a better player when he tries to force the bowler with some positivity. The second four was in the air, though, so it will give New Zealand further encouragement."

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Eng 52-2 (trail by 82)

A primal scream of 'No!' from Henry has he strays onto Ian Bell's pads. You know where that's going. Beautifully clipped into the leg-side outfield by Bell, who is showing real positive intent here. And again Bell finds the gap nicely, flaying one between point and cover for four. Plenty of wide open spaces in the field thanks to McCullum's ultra-attacking fields - can England keep finding them?

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"Stroke of pedigree as Southee searched for the full outswinger. Bell was more orthodox to find the gap in the off-side. He did that successfully and it raced away. It will make Bell feel much better."

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Eng 38-2 (Henry 3-0-4-0)

This partnership is so key for England. Their two most experienced players are at the crease - if New Zealand can part them, they will have landed a real body-blow on their opponents. And Matt Henry so nearly does the trick! Full, swinging in, Cook just pushes at it uppishly and the ball drops just short of Luke Ronchi at mid-on. And then Henry finds the edge, squaring Cook up, the ball dropping just short of the slips. This is an examination.

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"It is interesting, if you feel you are a bit out of nick, two choices occur to you: put up the sandbags or you play freely and try to get to 20 and then start playing. You feel this is the second of those two options from Bell."

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Eng 35-2 (trail by 99)

Some spell this by Southee, a man who has done plenty of damage to England batting orders in his time. The shape he's getting is gorgeous, curving the ball back into the batsman's pads from a nagging off-stump line. Ian Bell doesn't miss out when the bowler does eventually err, flaying a wide one backward of point.